Australia select rookies

SYDNEY • Australia sprang a surprise yesterday when they called up uncapped paceman Andrew Fekete, 30, for next month's cricket Test tour of Bangladesh as part of a major shake-up following a slew of retirements.

Debutant top-order batsman Cameron Bancroft, 22, also gets the nod in a 15-man squad captained by Steve Smith as Australia grapple with wholesale changes.

Ex-skipper Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson have all retired as Australia lost the Ashes Test tour but won the one-day series against England 3-2.

Quicks Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood are both rested after a heavy recent workload, while opener David Warner and leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed are injured.

Joe Burns, Patrick Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell and Stephen O'Keefe are all recalled for the two Tests in Chittagong and Dhaka.

"The retirements as well as issues of injury, form and conditions have brought about a major change in the profile of the touring party," said national selector Rodney Marsh. "But with that change comes a fantastic opportunity for all the players going to Bangladesh.

"They are going as a young group with seven of the players aged 26 or less, and all 15 have the opportunity to kick on."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 15, 2015, with the headline Australia select rookies. Subscribe